It is unsafe to operate a passenger vehicle that has not been inspected, or did not pass inspection and has not yet been repaired. Never be afraid to ask your transportation partner to review their vehicle inspection records and verify with the State.
Drivergent is in full compliance with all State of Michigan commercial passenger vehicle inspection requirements.
In Michigan, Public Act 187 – “The Pupil Transportation Act” – regulates the equipment, maintenance, operation, and use of school buses and to prescribe the qualifications of school bus drivers.257.1839 Inspections:
Sec. 39. (1) The department of state police shall inspect each school bus annually, and as the department of state police determines necessary where school bus defects have been found, to determine if the school bus meets the requirements of this act and the rules promulgated pursuant to this act.
(2) Inspection of a school bus may be accomplished at any time, at any location, on or off a school site, and as frequently as the department of state police considers necessary to secure passenger safety. A school bus may be rejected by the inspecting state police official for further use in transportation of passengers if it does not meet the requirements of this act and the rules promulgated pursuant to this act.
(3) A person, school, or school bus owner shall not operate or permit to be operated a school bus which has not been inspected under this section.
(4) Any public or private entity that owns or uses a school bus for pupil transportation shall identify itself to the department of state police so an inspection can be scheduled.
(5) When an inspection is scheduled by the department of state police, an entity shall identify to the state police inspector all of the school buses that it intends to use for pupil transportation in that school year. Any school bus that is not submitted for inspection shall be rejected and have a red sticker affixed pursuant to section 41.
(7) A school, before establishing a contract with a company for school bus services, shall require the company to verify in writing that the buses used by the contractor have been inspected by the department of state police and have passed that inspection. The school shall specify in a written contract that the contractor will not use any school buses that have not been inspected or have failed inspection, and that a violation of this provision of the contract will result in revocation of the contract. The contract shall specify that the contractor shall submit, in writing, the inspection results of its entire fleet of buses to the school within 30 days of the completion of the department of state police inspection. A school shall identify to the department of state police all of the contractors the school is using upon request.
257.1841 Rejection; red sticker; yellow sticker; reinspection; passing sticker:
Sec. 41. (1) A school bus may be rejected by the inspecting state official for use in transporting passengers if it does not meet the requirements of this act and the rules promulgated pursuant to this act.
(2) A vehicle that is determined by a state police official to be unsafe for further operation as a school bus shall not be used. An unsafe vehicle shall have affixed to its windshield, by the state police official, a red sticker which shall read as follows: “This vehicle may not be driven. Utilization of this vehicle is in violation of law. {reverse side} Do not remove without State Police authorization.” The sticker shall remain until the condition is corrected. A school bus may be transported to a maintenance facility for repair if the school bus driver provides written proof of destination to a state police official upon request.
(3) A school bus that is considered to be in unsatisfactory condition, but that is safe for operation, shall have affixed to its windshield by the state police official a yellow sticker which shall read as follows: “This vehicle has equipment defects. {reverse side} Repairs and reinspection shall be obtained on or before _____. Do not remove without State Police authorization.” If, upon reinspection, the vehicle defect has not been repaired, replaced, or corrected, the state police official shall remove the yellow sticker and affix a red sticker to the vehicle. Reinspection may take place within 60 days after the original inspection.
(4) A school bus that is considered to be in satisfactory condition after inspection by a state police official shall have a Michigan vehicle inspection passing sticker affixed to its windshield. The display of a pass sticker on a vehicle other than a school bus is a state civil infraction.
In Michigan, Public Act 432 – “The Motor Bus Transportation Act” – regulates commercial for-hire passenger transportation vehicles with a seating capacity of 9 passengers or more, including the driver.
474.116 Inspections:
Sec. 16. (1) To maintain authorized status for a bus, a motor carrier shall ensure that the bus passes a valid inspection as provided in this section and that the condition of the bus is maintained between inspections.
(2) Beginning on January 1, 2017, for an inspection of a bus to be a valid inspection, all of the following shall be satisfied:
(a) An inspection has been scheduled at the department’s convenience.
(b) The inspector of the bus indicates on an inspection report prepared by the department that the bus has passed the inspection before the expiration of the previous inspection.
(d) The department shall accept an inspection conducted by the department of state police if that inspection meets the requirements of this act.
(3) A bus that does not have a valid inspection under this section shall not be operated over the public highways of this state.
(6) A motor carrier shall maintain a copy of a current valid inspection report on board each bus at all times, and the report shall be made available for review upon demand by an authorized federal, state, or local official.
(7) If the department has reasonable cause to believe that a bus is unsafe for operation or has not been inspected as required by this act or rules promulgated under this act, a department safety inspector may inspect the bus. If the bus is not in compliance with this act, the department may require the motor carrier to place the bus out of service until all violations have been corrected or eliminated.
(8) Upon satisfactory completion of a valid inspection of a bus as required by this act and payment of all required fees by the motor carrier, the department shall issue a decal indicating the expiration date of the inspection for that bus. A motor carrier shall not use a bus displaying an expired decal to provide for-hire passenger service.
(9) A motor carrier shall not operate a bus over the public highways of this state if that bus does not have a properly displayed current decal issued by the department under subsection (8).
